Discouragement of Casual Travellers
pp. 27-28 · Read in the full issue
Red Tape In French Oceania
(Contributed)
AN article entitled “Travellers and Currency in New Caledonia” prompts me to write about similar conditions in French Oceania.
Visitors to the fabled island of Tahiti— now a paradise for French officials—are confronted with endless red tape, in place of the traditional hospitality.
When a foreigner arrives he is forced to declare all his currency. That money must either be deposited in the local bank, or converted into francs by the bank, which takes its percentage.
Certain amounts have been fixed as to what a tourist is expected to spend per person per month. For example, an American is obliged to spend 200 dollars per month. Close supervision is kept on all tourists and if they do not spend the fixed amount they are told in no uncer tain terms to leave the colony.
Recently, some tourists were informed in very insulting language that the only reason they were tolerated in Tahiti was because of the need for foreign exchange; and, if they did not spend the prescribed amount, they had no business staying on.
This may be a surprise to those who saw the recent article in PIM which stated that our newest Governor was anxious to encourage the tourist business.
Before the war, if one wished to visit Tahiti, all that was necessary was a round-trip ticket and a visa from the nearest French consul, obtainable in a matter of minutes. Now, a prospective
visitor must pay the consul the fee for a cable to Tahiti and the necessary an swer from the Governor, authorising him to obtain the visa before the consul may issue the visa. Then, one is allowed to buy a round-trip ticket to Tahiti. As stated above all money must be declared on arrival and a close check is maintained on the visitor, as though he were a dan gerous criminal.
If one wants to visit the outer islands— for example, Bora Bora—a letter to the Governor is necessary. Before permis sion is granted the official in charge of such matters carefully consults the bank and, if the visitor is not guilty of the crime of trying to live economically, and has spent his 200 dollars per month, he is allowed to make the visit. If the un suspecting tourist has not spent his quota
of 200 dollars per month, he receives a severe tongue-lashing and is asked to leave the colony, A wonderful French way of developing the tourist trade!
When the tourist leaves, he is made to account for all the money he originally declared and a check is made with the bank to be sure that no discrepancies exist. Then, after a careful search of his luggage, the departing traveller is allowed to go aboard the vessel and de part.
Such an attitude, and way of treating tourists, cannot possibly encourage more to come nor to bring in many dollars. On the other hand, it is a well-known fact that almost all the government officials have traded in the black market. It is widely rumoured that one fonctionnaire recently made over 9,000 dollars in black market currency dealings. Small wonder the colony’s finances are not very stable!
All colonies in the Pacific, interested in developing a tourist trade, would do well, by way of contrast, to look at Bermuda and Nassau, in the Atlantic Ocean. Those two places have the minimum of restric tions and red tape. No passports, no
visas, ho deposits, no cables to governors.
The only requirement is a round-trip ticket. The result is that each prospers, and neither is short on dollars.
Please excuse me for wishing to remain anonymous; my reasons are most ob vious. I live in Tahiti because I like the Polynesians and not the bureaucratic French officials, who systematically drain all the fat off the land.